Hakhel, the Jewish Intentional Communities Incubator, was awarded the Jerusalem Unity Prize today in the international category. Hakhel, a project of Hazon, the Jewish Lab for Sustainability, received the prize for its relentless work to cultivate emerging Jewish communities all over the world and forge the connection between them and the State of Israel. The prize will be awarded in a special ceremony at Israeli President Reuven Rivlin's residence on June 2. Rivlin is well known for his long-standing efforts to bring the different "tribes" of Israeli society together, as well as world Jewry.

"We are so thrilled to have won this award. The role of Hakhel as an incubator to intentional communities is strategic in advancing Jewish engagement and Jewish peoplehood. The work of Hakhel's advisors is key to building sustainable communities," said Tenafly native and Hakhel advisor Michal Guttman. "Furthermore, Hakhel presents multiple opportunities to share, connect, and become inspired by other communities in the Hakhel network. For me, Hakhel represents a creative, open-minded, dynamic, relevant, and significant response to the field of Jewish engagement."

"This year, we chose the winners in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, during which we felt the need to care for each other more, and make sure we all get through this time safely. Stemming from these sentiments, we selected this year's winners which inspire us all with their daily work for the unity of our people, in Israel and around the world," said Knesset Member Nir Barkat, the former mayor of Jerusalem and co-founder of the Jerusalem Unity Prize.

Founded in 2014, Hakhel, which operates in partnership with Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, is the first and largest global incubator for Jewish intentional communities, comprising over 130 communities in 30 different countries. Its mission is to spark and support new expressions of Jewish life around the world by nurturing the growth of intentional communities with the help of advisors, seed funding and network building.

The Jerusalem Unity Prize is given to individuals, organizations, and initiatives in Israel and throughout the Jewish world whose actions are instrumental in advancing mutual respect for others amongst the Jewish people, during crises and in daily life. The ceremony this year will not open to the public, but it will be broadcast online.

A special public committee selected the winners of the 2020 award. The committee included former Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, chairman of the award committee, Isaac "Bougie" Herzog, Natan Sharansky, Kobi Oz, Brig. Gen. (res.) Amal Assad, Noam Lautman, Rabbi Shai Piron, Israel Goldshmid, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, David Menachem, Karin Mayer Rubinstein, Shlomi Yehiav, and the Yifrach, Shaar, and Fraenkel families. The prize was created to memorialize Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Fraenkel who were murdered by Palestinian terrorists in 2014.

Hakhel will dedicate a substantial part of its monetary prize to conduct a global campaign to honor and support communities that fought on the social frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic and are now figuring out how to prepare for the aftermath of the crisis.

Hakhel General Director Aharon Ariel Lavi stated, "We are deeply honored to receive the Jerusalem Unity Award. Fostering Jewish connections among Jews around the world and Israel is a cornerstone of Hakhel's work, as shown by our more than 130 intentional communities worldwide. We look forward to continuing to spark and support new expressions of Jewish life around the world in the years to come."

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Hakhel Wins Prestigious Jerusalem Unity Prize | Teaneck ...